Can-switch.



D. YALLARINO.

GAN SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED we. 22, 1910.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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D. VALLARINO CAN SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1910.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 2 DA'VIIDE VALLARINO, OF SAN LFIANDRO,

CALIFORNIA, AS SIG-NOR TO CALIFORNIA FRUIT CANNERS ASSOCIATION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA CAN-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 22, 1916. Serial No. 578,891.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVIDE VALLARINO, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Leandro, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Can- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to can-switching mechanism, and is applicable in any situation in which a mam can-supply has capacity suflicient for plural destinations.

My resent object is to providesimple and e ective means-for automatically diverting successive filled cans from a main carrier to a branch carrier on each side which will convey them to independent sealing machines, thereby effecting economy in time and labor.

My invention consists in the novel automatic switching device which I shall now describe and claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of my switch showing it thrown over to the left, so that the first can is being carried off by the left branch carrier, while the second can has entered the switch and is about to throw it to the right. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the switch in a middle position on its course to the right, being impelled thereto by the continued ressure of second can which is itself being deflected to the right branch carrier. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the switch completely thrown to the right, the second can being on the right branch-carrier and the third can about to enter the other side of the switch.

1 is the main-carrier.

2 is the left branch-carrier, and 3 is the right branch-carrier. The branch-carriers are disposed at an angle to the main-carrier, one on either side thereof.

The can-switch is composed of a curved arm 4; another curved arm 5; a link 6 pivotally connectingthe adjacent extremities of the two arms; and a base 7 having ears 8 to which the curved switch arms are pivoted at 4' and 5 respectively.

The two switch arms 4 and 5 are symmetrical, being of a concavo-convex shape,

with their concave faces presented to the direction of travel of the cans on the maincarrier. They are thus oppositely disposed with relation to each other, or, as it may be ment.

stated, back to back. Their pivotal centers .4 and 5' are also symmetrically disposed.

gPatented'Mar. as, 1911.

and are so related that the movement of the arms upon said centers, as their con-- nected ends alternately cross and recross the. median longitudinal line of the main-can. These arms are, therefore,-

rier, is equal. when in their middle position, as shown' in Fig. 2, symmetrically but oppositely disposed with respect to the main-carrier, and the two branch-carriers.

The link 6 which joinsthe. two arms-and is pivotally connected to each, as shown,-at the points 9 and 10, causes their opposite movement in unison. In order to both limit and lock this movement, the face of the link 6 is provided with a curved lug 11, which at the limit of the throw on either, side fits into a correspondingly curved recess 12 in either switch-arm; and this seating. of the lug is deep enough to carry the then lower pivotal point of the link beyond a straight line drawn from its then upper pivotal point to the pivotal point of the thrownback switch-arm with the base, so thatg-thc arms are thus locked against further move- In order to accommodate thehead of the thrown-back switcharm in this locked limitof movement, the adjacent face of each arm is cut out slightly as shown at 13, and the head of the arms enters this depression.

The operation of the device is as follows :The cans, indicated by 14, are supplied to the main-carrier 1 and advance in file toward the switch. Let it be supposed that, as shown in Fig. 1, the position of the arms be such that the arm 5 is thrown back and the arm 4 is thrown forward both to their locked limit. In this position, the head of the arm 5 and the whole of the link 6 are to the left of "the center line of the maincarrier, and together they present a continuous smooth surface. The first can having been diverted to the left branch carrier 2, the second can advancing, therefore, contacts to one side of its vertical center with the end of the link and then enters the embrace of the arm 5. It is thus by its continued movement necessarily bodily forced over sidewise as it travels against the then looked faces of the link and the adjacent part of the arm 5, until, by this side movement it reaches that portion of arm 5 which lies to the right of its pivotal center at 5, as shown in Flg. 2, whereupon its pressure, under the continued advance of the main carrier, swings said arm 5 forwardly, which has the effect of continuing the bodily movement of the can sidewise and over onto the branch-carrier 3. This movement of the can thus resets the switch in its opposite position as shown in Fig. 3 in which said arm 5 is thrownforward and the arm 4 is thrown backward, thereby setting the switch for the third can which .by a like pressure and operation is deflected over to the other branch-carrier 2, which has the effect of resetting the switch in its first position. Thus the cans aresuccessively diverted to the left and to. the right automatically, and the object of the device is attained. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is. y

1. A can-switch comprising a pair of swinging arms, connected to act in unison,

said arms being disposed in the line of travel of the cans and adapted by the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect. successive cans to oppositesides. l

2. In a can-switching mechanism, the combmatlon wlth a IHHIIIPCHIIIBI and branchcarriers at an angle to the main carrier at tively reversed swinging arms, pivotally connected to act in unison, said arms being disposed in the line of travel of the cans and adapted by the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to-the left and to theright of the median line of travel of said cans, to deflect the successive cans to opposite sides. I

4. In a can-switching mechanism, the combination with a main-carrier, and branchcarriers at an angle to the main-carrier at opposite sides thereof, a pair of relatively reversed swingingarms, plvotally connected to act in unison, said arms being disposed in the line of travel of the cans on the maincarrier and ada ted by the pressure of succes'sive cans to fie thrown alternately to the left and to the right of the median line tf travel of said cans, to deflect successive cans from the main carrier to opposite branchj carriers.

5. A can-switch comprising a pair of relatively reversed, symmetrically pivoted, swinging arms, disposed in the line of travel of the cans and adapted by the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to eaaoai the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to opposite sides, and a link pivotally connected with the adjacent ends of said arms'and disposed to alternately continue their pressure faces past the median line of travel of the cans. Y

6. A can-switch comprising a pair ofrela tively reversed, symmetrically pivoted, swinging arms, disposed in the line of travel of the cans and adapted by the pressure of successive cans tobe thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to opposite sides, and a link pivotally connected with the adjacent ends of said arms and disposed to alternately continue their pressure faces ast the median line of .travel of the cans, sald link having a bearing successive cans to be thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to opposite sides, and a link pivotally connected with the adjacent ends of said arms and disposed to alternately continue their pressure faces past the median line of travel of the cans; said link having a bearing against said arms alternately, to limit their movement at either side, the hearing being so disposed as to throw the pivotal centers out of hue to lock the parts at said limit of movement.

8. In a can-switching mechanism, the combination of a main-carrier; branch-carriers on opposite sides of the main-carrier at an angle thereto; a pair of curved, relatively reversed, symmetrically pivoted swinging arms disposed in the line of travel of the cans on the main-carrier and adapted by the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to opposite branch-carriers, each of said arms having a recess; and a link pivotally connected with the adjacent ends of said arms and disposed toalternately continue their pressure faces past the median line of travel of the cans, said link having a lug adapted to enter the recesses ofsaid arms alternately to limit their movement to either side. i

9. In a can-switching mechanism, the combination of a main-carrier; branch-carriers on opposite sides of the main-carrier at an angle thereto; a pair of curved, relatively reversed, symmetricall pivoted swinging arms disposed in the ine of travel of the cans on the main-carrier and adapted by the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to o posite branch-carriers, eachOf said arms aving a recess; and a link pivotally connected with the adjacent ends of said arms and disposed to alternately continue their pressure faces past the median line of travel of the-- the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to opposite sides.

11. A can-switch comprising a pair of pivotally supported arms, connected by an interposed link to act in unison; said arms being disposed .in the line of travel of the cans and adapted by the pressure of successive cans to be thrown alternately to the left and to the right to deflect successive cans to opposite sides.

,12. A can-switch comprising a pair of curved arms, a pivotal support for each-arm intermediate the ends thereof and a pivotalconnection between the adjacent ends of the arms permitting said arms to move by the pressure of succeeding cans alternately in opposite directions upon their pivotal supports.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVIDE VALLARINO.

Vitnesses:

J. N. FRANK; Y. H. WILSON. 

